Portland Metro and Vancouver Edition of the NW Boomer and Senior News November 2015 by Northwest50Plus

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GLASS WORKS Joe LaSorella hasn’t let a disability stop him from becoming a master craftsman By MAGGI WHITE BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

Joe LaSorella’s craftsmanship with stained glass has added beauty and style to entryways, homes and church sanctuaries. For more than 35 years, his familyowned business has replaced broken glass, re-soldered, removed old grout and re-putted, adding framing and reinforcement – restoring the former glory to many antiques. It’s not always an easy process for LaSorella, who doesn’t hesitate to talk about his handicaps and how they’ve both hurt — and blessed — his life. Now 72, he radiates genial warmth and reveals an intelligent mind. Little about him indicates a surrender to the pain that he lives with. LaSorella has had spinal stenosis

Photos by NWBSN staff

Top, Joe LaSorella sits near the entrance of his home in northeast Portland, where his stained glass art accents the windows of his front door. Above, he plays backgammon on a board he designed.

INSIDE

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for the past 15 years, a condition that causes pain and numbness, weakness and tingling in the extremities. He also has a genetic disorder, congenital atrophy of his finger joints. These conditions kept him from following in his father’s footsteps, calling it “bad genes.” The senior LaSorella was a worldfamous piano tuner who was in constant demand by many symphony orchestras and dance bands of his time, and was president of the American Piano Tuner’s Guild for many years. He even had as a client W. Clement Stone, a millionaire insurance magnate who flew the piano tuner around the world to tune pianos in his many homes. Being unable to follow in his father’s footsteps did not keep this

See GLASS p. 2

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Of note

GLASS

LaSorellaGlass.com. For questions about consultations and estimates, send an email to StainedGlassJoe@gmail. com

CONTINUED FROM P. 1

enterprising son from the many vocations he has tried in his lifetime, from running a small radio station and working in a mortuary, to selling Rolls Royces and Jaguars before owning his own contemporary furniture store. “Being handicapped, it has always been difficult keeping gainfully employed,” LaSorella says. When his furniture store in Seattle failed in 1978, LaSorella took an extended vacation to Santa Barbara, visiting a friend who had a modest stained glass studio in his garage and taught LaSorella the nuts and bolts of the avocation. “Though I am somewhat clumsy with hand tools, I was able to hold a glass cutter and grasp a soldering iron reasonably well,” he says. “But with a few modifications of the tools I developed assembly techniques that produced solid, professional grade windows. I regarded stained glass as an opportunity to practice a craft that gave me self-sufficiency and a counter balance to any pity people might have of me. It also gave me a sense of worth after a business failure.” It also seemed to fit in with LaSorella’s interest in making things. He had always puttered around his father’s shop in the basement when he was a child and, “I was always

Photo by NWBSN staff

Joe LaSorella and Andrew Pelsma have been friends for six years. Pelsma, a graduate student, visits his friend several times a week. making models of airplanes and boats,” he says. “I loved to work with my hands and to have a product to show for it. It was the right thing at the right time and I was not a half-bad artist.” LaSorella married in 1968 and adopted his wife’s two daughters. One of the daughters, Lynn Rabin, now works in her father’s stained glass shop, along with one of LaSorella’s nephews, Arlen Halstad. Joe and his wife Darlene divorced. He’s now married to Joyce, whom he

met when she brought supplies to his studio and later began working part-time for him. Joyce is a registered nurse at the veteran’s hospital. Meanwhile, the stained glass studio is commercially outfitted to the production of large and small windows. They specialize in the design, production and installation of windows, as well as the repair and restoration of antique windows and lamps. LaSorella is known as the “visionary” of the business,

while his staff does work on the stained glass products that he is unable to do. He does some repairs, but it’s his family who extract the damaged windows and then re-install the improved stained glass. He is able to work on stained glass two or three hours a day and supervises his daughter and nephew. One of LaSorella’s commissions was to interpret Psalm 23 on two windows for St. John Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Wash. According to the pastor, the Rev. William Stuenkel, LaSorella’s final product showed not only his artistry as a designer, but also his master as a craftsman. When his friend Andy Pelsma isn’t at Concordia College working on his master’s degree in education, he attends to LaSorella. “I love the guy,” Pelsma freely says. This friend takes

Vol. 17 - Number 11 Oregon’s oldest & largest 50+ publication Publisher David Thouvenel dthouvenel@nwseniornews.com Managing Editor - All Editions Michelle Te mte@nwseniornews.com Graphics/Production - All Editions Pam Cooley-Newberry pcooley@nwseniornews.com Accounting - Barb Calvisky bcalvisky@nwseniornews.com Circulation Bob Buhrer - knotphc@msn.com

LaSorella to doctor’s appointments, helps him in his stained glass studio and plays backgammon with him on a specially-designed table that allows LaSorella to be able to play it in his inviting home. The table that LaSorella invented is illuminated and instead of having to pick up pieces to play it, he can slide them across the board. The table is so unique it could also adapt to other board games, like chess or checkers for other disabled people or be used as a small dining table. LaSorella and Pelsma play backgammon as many as five times a day and because of the table’s construction, games are quickly finished. In his spare time, LaSorella avidly reads history books, enjoys old movies and historical documentaries. He likes war stories, espionage, military books and stories about past presidents, as well as keeping up on current events. On his reading table was a book about the Wright Brothers. While watching movies he tells Pelsma anecdotes of history related to what they are seeing on the TV, and Pelsma says he’s learned a lot from his senior friend. “He’s got the biggest heart of anybody I’ve ever known,” Pelsma says. “(He’s) intelligent, caring, kind, artistic, compassionate.” “It’s important to keep busy,” LaSorella says. “It’s a great distraction from pain.” ■

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PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

Stars in their eyes Courtesy photo

The cast of Northwest Senior Theatre prepares for their big holiday performance this month. They’ll be decked out in silver costumes for their “Silver Season.” The musical shows include scenery, choreography and lots of music.

NW Senior Theatre’s holiday show proves the group has been going strong for 25 years

By MAGGI WHITE BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

Northwest Senior Theatre is no longer a teenager. The Portland-based organization celebrates its 25th year with the presentation of “Silver Season — Holidays,” Nov. 18 to 21 at the Alpenrose Dairy Opera House. The organization’s “birthday year” will be a glitzy affair, with silver costumes for both the male and female performers. There will be an audience singalong with Christmas and Hanukah carols, and the group expects an audience of more than 2,000 over the four-day run.

And why shouldn’t they? Where else could you watch an all-senior cast dance and sing, provide laughter and fun – and sometimes bring the house down with their talent and amusing gigs? Northwest Senior Theatre is a group of experienced singers, dancers, actors, musicians and production folks who range in age from 55 to more than 90 years old. The professional-quality musical variety shows come complete with costumes, scenery, choreography and, of course, lots of music. It’s open to anyone who has an interest in theater, says director Ray Beyer, and not all volunteers appear on stage. Some work on sets, lights, sounds or as dressers. Some have professional expe-

rience while others have just sung in the shower. But they’re all volunteers. Broadway, the movies, TV, radio and vaudeville have influenced the shows, says Beyer, who develops each show. The group particularly is known for its sets and costumes. Choreographer and director’s assistant Sue Tenison keeps them on the right foot, having once operated an Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Rehearsals are the backbone of a successful show and occur twice a week. It’s sometimes a challenge to get the entire cast of 22 men and women in one place at the same time, or to do extra practices at their homes. But it all seems to come together once

See STARS p. 4

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STARS

“When our volunteers come on stage, they amaze themselves. They feel good when the show is over, and so does the audience. That’s why they keep coming back for more.”

CONTINUED FROM P. 3

the show starts and the adrenaline kicks in. Beyer seems to be the perfect person to lead so many different personalities and abilities. He’s a professional – with a heart. Music has been a part of his life since he was 6 years old and he started learning to play piano. As an adult, Beyer was an administrator and organist at a Presbyterian church in Tigard. On his last day at the church, a board member at Northwest Senior Theatre offered him the job as artistic director. He couldn’t turn it down. Now, his challenge comes in compiling a program that is attractive to an audience, with both familiar music and unknown pieces that broaden the experience. It’s a challenge to organize the participants as well. He says he loves what he does – helping volunteers to do their best. “It’s like another family,” Beyer says. The theater not only satisfies a desire to continue singing and dancing, no matter the limitations of age, but it also fills many lives with companionship. Many older adults who now are single due to divorce or death of a spouse find an outlet as they work together to produce a show. Friendships have developed and some volunteers have

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • NOVEMBER 2015

~ Ray Beyer, director traveled together. Several of the members also volunteer outside of the theater group at hospitals, libraries, senior centers, churches and more. Even marriages happen, like Ralph and Gerry Cox, who met while volunteering. It’s also a place where age knows no limits. Take Nona Bingham, a 100-year-old performer who brings the house down with her imitation of Minnie Pearl, complete with costumes from the Grand Ole Opry. Although she now lives in Medford, Bingham still performs with the Portland group yearly. “She comes with her own routine and audiences love her spirit and her funny jokes,” Beyer says. He says that getting involved in something you enjoy can actually improve your mobility and health. He tells of one of his volunteers who lived in low-income housing and whose mobility was affected by a stroke. However, he has a “beautiful tenor voice” and, at the end of the

year with the theater group, he no longer had to use a cane. While the performers are strictly volunteers, it still costs about $15,000 to put on a show each year, the director says. He has an active board of directors that works to raise operating expenses. His future plans include offering short cabaret-type programs, with fewer participants, to assisted living centers. “These would be good quality shows,” Beyer says, and would include solos, duets and trios. In short, Northwest Senior Theatre is the only group of its kind to feature live music. Volunteers help with every aspect of putting on a show and the organization welcomes non-performers to help out with all the details that need to be in place on opening day. When our volunteers come on stage, “they amaze themselves,” Beyer says. “They feel good when the show is over, and so does the audience. That’s why they keep coming back for more.” ■

Courtesy photo

This “Santa Baby” pose is just one of several acts NW Senior Theatre will perform during its 25th anniversary special show, Nov. 18 to 21.

Of note

Northwest Senior Theatre, 503-251-4332, nwseniortheatre.org

2015 Holiday Gala, “Silver Season — Holidays,” 2 p.m. Nov. 18 to 21, Alpenrose Dairy Opera House, 6149 NW Shattuck Road, Portland. $5 at the door. Open seating, so please come early.

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HEALTHY VIBES Put your lung cancer to the (CT) test

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

By JOHN HANDY, M.D.

Colonoscopies and mammograms are widely used to successfully prevent colon and breast cancers or to catch them in their earliest, most treatable stages. Hundreds of thousands of people are alive today because of what they discovered, while time was still on their side, through these tests. An additional test — lowdose CT scanning — offers the same lifesaving power for people at high risk for lung cancer by finding small lung cancers while they are still curable. However, many people aren’t aware that this test is now widely recommended and covered by Medicare. It’s now well known that

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • NOVEMBER 2015

the defining risk factor for lung cancer is a history of smoking. We also know that finding lung cancer early offers the best possible hope for successful treatment and cure. Statistics vary depending on how and when they are collected, but in my experience, with today’s treatments, as many as 50 to 80 percent of people whose lung cancers are discovered and treated in the earliest stages can reach their fiveyear survival anniversaries. Until recently, however, it hasn’t been clear whether screening for lung cancer made any difference to survival. Traditional chest Xrays proved ineffective, and CT scans, while promising, were still being studied. In 2011, we finally got the

study results we were hoping for. The National Lung Screening Trial compared annual low-dose CT screening to standard chest X-rays in more than 50,000 current and former heavy smokers. It found a clear 20 percent sur-

vival advantage for those who had CT screening. Now annual low-dose CT scanning is the standard of care for people at high risk for lung cancer. Medicare covers annual low-dose CT lung cancer screening for beneficiaries who: ■ Are age 55-77 ■ Are current smokers or have quit in the last 15 years ■ Have smoked at least 30 “pack years” (e.g., a pack a day for 30 years, or two packs a day for 15 years) If this describes you, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of lung cancer

screening. And remember, November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and the Great American Smokeout is scheduled for Nov. 19. If you still smoke or use tobacco, there’s no better time than now to kick the habit. Quitting tobacco offers immediate and long-term benefits, including greater life expectancy and reduced risk of lung, larynx and oral cancer, heart and vascular disease, bronchitis and emphysema. A variety of stop smoking resources are available, including Providence smoking cessation classes. Learn more by calling the Providence Resource Line at 503-5746595. Or check out Quit for Life, a telephone-based program for people who want the support of a structured program but who can’t attend a group class. Details are available at 1-866-QUIT-4-LIFE (1-866-784-8454). ■

John Handy, M.D., is director of the Providence Thoracic Surgery Program and co-director of the Providence Thoracic Oncology Program

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book review

“The Water Knife” by Paolo Bacigalupi Published 2015 by Alfred A. Knopf Sometimes science fiction can come closer to real life than might be expected. “The Water Knife,” by award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi, is a case in point. Taking off from the current conditions of “climate change, and dust storms and fires and droughts” in the American Southwest, Bacigalupi spins a yarn set in the not-too-distant future where lack of water is so dire that the worst of human nature collides with survival needs of an increasingly uprooted population. With as many twists and turns as a meandering stream bed, the main plot revolves around a rumored water rights document that is senior to all others, and hence carries with it vast financial implications. In a land where those who control increasingly scarce water resources control life itself, chaos and the rule of law vie for the upper hand. As the book opens, smart but ruthless Catherine Case, the powerful boss of the Southern Nevada Water Authority — home base Las Vegas — has dispatched her evil but

canny enforcer, Angel Velasquez, her “water knife,” to destroy the water supply processing system for a California city. Her reasoning: The rights to water for that city are in legal question, and the issue is to be decided by a judge the next day. So before a ruling can be made against her, Case has her troops, including the state’s national guard, swoop in by helicopter. With Velasquez in charge, the plant is evacuated and destroyed, leaving the city’s population with no water supply, only what can be brought in. That is how things are done. Then there is Phoenix, where Velasquez next goes and where much of the book’s plot about the mysterious water rights document unfolds. Here is a city that, from both lack of water and from environmental degradation, is in the throes of dying. Well, almost, for there are the haves, and the have-nots. For the former, the massive self-contained, high-rise “ar-

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

chologies” that have arisen in several cities, including Phoenix Las an d Vegas, a l low people to prosper “inside triplefilter apartments” with “clean air, perfectly recycled water, their own farms, everything they needed to live …” One of these massive selfcontained ghettos for the rich built, of course, by the Chinese, is felt to exist “as if it were entirely removed from the dust and smoke and collapse of the greater city beyond.” For the less fortunate living in the city, it is a life of scrambling asylum seekers and survivors in a world with tightly rationed water, devastating heat, smoke from mas-

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sive fires, and imaginative hustlers. It is “…that odd mix of broken souls, bleeding hearts and predators who occupied the shattered places of the world. Human spackle, filling in the cracks of disaster.” In the midst of the real-life mass migrations of refugees from Africa and Asia who are fleeing toward Europe, along with finding a number of dead among those supposedly heading to a better life, it is difficult not to draw real-life conclusions from this fictional account, which, for example, has large numbers of bodies found in the desert near Phoenix. These are the bodies of those who paid others to supposedly lead them to a place with water and life. They are “piled corpses who had tried to buy their way north to places with water and jobs and hope.” One reason for this forced migration: “Everyone had to leave because they weren’t going to

N o w

be trucking in water anymore.” A main source of the author’s factual basis for the “Water Knife” is a real-life non-fiction book that has an ironic role in this work of fiction. The book, “Cadillac Desert,” written in 1986, is about land development and water policy in the West. Bacigalupi acknowledges help from a number of other sources knowledgeable about the water situation in the Southwest. The author of “The Water Knife” is no stranger to spinning possible outcomes from current issues. In an earlier work, “The Windup Girl,” Bacigalupi tackled a fictional scenario of what can happen when genetically modified food becomes the norm, and the huge companies that control the modified seeds also essentially can control the world. Reviewed by DAVID R. NEWMAN

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All information is current as of October 12th, 2015 The Waitlist is OPEN for the following properties: SOUTHEAST PORTLAND - Fir Grove 503-760-0907 (1BR) VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNTY Gateway Garden 360-835-2214 (2BR, 3BR Only) HILLSBORO The Maples I 503-681-9096 (1BR Only) The Maples II 503-681-9096 The Waitlist has been CLOSED for the following properties due to long wait times: DOWNTOWN 12th Avenue Terrace 971-277-1299 (Studio) The Admiral 503-546-9191 (Studio, 1BR) Bronaugh Apt 503-227-0754 (Studio, 1BR) *Property under Rehab* Station Place Tower 503-501-5712 (Studio, 1BR) NORTH PORTLAND - Patton Park 971-255-4444 (3BR Units Only) NORTHEAST PORTLAND Walnut Park 503-282-7449 (1BR) Prescott Place 503-288-4487 (1BR) SOUTHEAST PORTLAND Beacon Manor 503-235-9029 (Studio, 1BR) Marion Street 503-235-9029 (1BR, 2BR) Powell Boulevard 503-231-3055 (Studio, 1BR, 2BR) Ritzdorf 503-501-5711 (Studio, 1BR) Scattered Sites 503-501-5700 (Studio, 1BR, 2BR) Taylor Street Apts 503-519-6309 (1BR, 2BR) SOUTHWEST PORTLAND - Gray’s Landing 971-277-7195 (Studio)

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Scotland’s Skye

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

While technically not on Skye, Eilean Donan Castle is a usual stop for visitors because of its proximity to the island's only bridge connection. It's haunting beauty makes it the most photographed castle in Scotland. Photo by Pat Snider

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • NOVEMBER 2015

■ Isle of Skye

has few residents, all seasons, terrain By PAT SNIDER BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

If you want to experience four seasons in a single day, the Isle of Skye is the perfect destination. Rain, blustery winds, blue skies and dark, angry storm clouds — it can go from sunny to downpour in a flash. As is often remarked on the island, you don’t come to Scotland for the weather. Located in the northwestern corner of Scotland, the Isle of Skye is the largest and best known of the Inner Hebrides Islands. Its 640-square miles are home to 9,000 residents and probably as many, if not more, sheep. The landscape is every bit as changeable as the weather and ranges from rugged seascapes, stark moors, craggy peaks, heathercovered hills, and treeless vistas. Parts of it are often compared to its northern neighbors like Norway, Ireland and Iceland, as well as southern counterparts in Patagonia and the south island of New Zealand. The Cullin Hills, Britain’s most dramatic mountain range, dominates the landscape on the south side of the island while the Trotterish Peninsula, Skye’s rocky northern region, offers some of the island’s most dramatic scenery and unusual geology. Two sites of note are the Old Man of Storr, a jagged, basalt pinnacle set in lunar-like hills, and Kilt Rock, a 200-foot sea cliff with a spectacular waterfall plunging from the top to the sea below. The folds in the rock are said to resemble the pleats in a kilt, hence the

See SKYE p. 9

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name. All this striking terrain is connected by a network of curvy, single-track roads used by sheep as well as autos. A few small villages and the occasional crofter’s (farmer) house dot the landscape, but it’s really all about the view. The island’s main town, Portree, boasts a population of 2,500 and offers an array of services for island visitors. Most of the accommodations are concentrated here, everything from hostels, bed and breakfasts, to historic hotels. The town’s waterfront, with its pastel-painted row of commercial buildings, is a popular postcard photo. While most of the attractions on the island are provided by Mother Nature, man has made a few contributions as well. No place in Scotland is complete without a castle or distillery and Skye is no exception. Dunvegan Castle, home to the MacLeod clan, has sections dating back to the ninth century, and has been in the same family for eight generations. A selfguided tour leads through a series of furnished rooms filled with family photos, trophies and weapons; but the gardens — an oasis of plants, paths and water features — are what make the place special. Eilean Donan Castle, while technically not on Skye, is a usual stop for visitors because of its proximity to the island’s only bridge connection. No one could drive by and not be drawn in by the haunting

Of note

To learn more about tours and everything else about visiting Skye, check out visitscotland.com

Photos by Pat Snider

You'll likely need a car to get around the Isle of Skye, but watch out (above) for the sheep, who number far more than the residents here. Parts of the Isle of Skye (left) are rugged and barren, surrounded by lush green fields and craggy coastlines.

e Com s tU Visi y! Toda

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SKYE

beauty that makes it the most photographed castle in Scotland. Fans of the popular TV series “Outlander,” as well as James Bond movies, will recognize its dramatic backdrop. Talisker Distillery, bonded in 1830, produces a single malt scotch whiskey noted for its distinct, smoky flavor, the result of peat smoke used in the distilling process. Tours are available that include a wee dram to taste. To enjoy the countryside it is imperative to have an automobile. Naturally, many Americans shy away from driving on the left side, and car rental prices are expensive. An alternative is a threeday tour of the island from either Edinburgh or Glasgow. A number of tour operators (Rabbies, Timberbush, Heart of Scotland) offer these small group, mini-van trips with similar itineraries and costs, and all receive great reviews and recommendations. One full day is spent exploring Skye, while the other two days involve getting there and back. In this case, the journey is as good as the destination and includes the wild scenery of the West Highlands of Scotland with stops at Glencoe, Loch Lommand, Loch Ness, and Eilean Donan Castle. The driver/guides are full of stories about Scottish history and folklore accompanied by a dose of bagpipe tunes. Accommodations (most often in Portree) are not included, giving passengers the option to choose from hostels to more upscale properties depending on budget. ■

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

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PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • NOVEMBER 2015

Bulbs can go beyond daffodils, tulips

DIGGIN’ IT!

By GRACE PETERSON MASTER GARDENER

Let’s face it, gardening can be kind of depressing this time of year. There is a lot of cleaning up to do and not very many blossoms to enjoy. Skies are generally gray and the ground is probably saturated with recent rains. Only diehard gardeners with a vision for next year’s garden are willing to ignore the drizzle and brave the elements to tend to their beloved landscapes. My somewhat futile attempts to tidy the November garden are fueled by my vision for next year’s beauty. One of the ways to counter the drudgery of that cleanup is to sprinkle in a few fun projects, like planting bulbs. There are the usual suspects — tulips, daffodil, hyacinth and crocus — all special in

their own way. Last year I got serious about researching a plant I’d seen growing in a field for years, usually around midMay. Sprinkled throughout indigenous grass, thin stems jutted upward to about three feet topped with pretty, medium lavender flower clusters. Exquisitely beautiful in their simplicity, I had to know what they were. I learned that there are several common names for Dichelostemma congesta, a bulb native to the Pacific Northwest — field cluster-lily, fork-toothed ookow, congested snake lily, to name a few. And I was pleasantly surprised to see that several online bulb companies have it for sale and it’s not expensive. I also learned that this bulb has two cousins of equal allure. Dichelostemma congesta “Pink Diamond” and Dichelostemma ida-maia

Photo by Grace Peterson

This flower, Dichelostemma, is native to the Northwest and is known by several common names.

— a red and white version of “Pink Diamond.” In May, the stately, towering spikes of foxtail lily (Eremurus ssp.) are a sight to behold in a garden that can

accommodate them. Their roots require lots of room, and my small garden isn’t suitable. So instead I’m comforting myself with flowering onions (Allium ssp.) which

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don’t require nearly as much root space. If you go online and search “allium flowers” you’ll be amazed at the selection available to home gardeners. They come in large, medium and small, and can bloom from spring through summer. And they’re all honeybee-magnets. I found a cute rock garden variety called “curly chives” or Allium spirale. It blooms in mid- to late-summer on short gray stems, perfect for the rock garden or container. On the flip side, the huge orbs on “tumbleweed onion” or Allium schubertii are as big as a basketball and hold their shape even after the mid-spring flowers fade. Among the worthy allium garden contenders is a plant with several botanical monikers. I’ll go with Nectaroscordum siculum here. The flowers are different from its many allium cousins with a bevy of one-inch burgundy, cream, and green bells hanging downward on three foot tall stems. Nicknamed Sicil-ian honey lily, Mediterranean bells, I was surprised last spring when I saw hummingbirds boldly raise the bells upward with their beaks to sip the sweet nectar. There are a few things to remember when planting bulbs, the most important being good drainage. Bulbs planted in water-logged soil will turn to mush. One way to test for good drainage is to pour water into the hole. If it doesn’t drain away quickly, it probably won’t be a good spot for bulbs. You can add compost, grit and create a raised bed to improve drainage or plant your bulbs in pots with fresh potting soil and drainage holes in the bottom. And let the foliage die naturally to nourish the bulb for future flowers. ■

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PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

Medicare Plan Guide Here’s what some major providers have to offer. For more detailed information, contact each company directly. Regence BlueAdvantage HMO 1-844-734-3623 TTY: 711 $0

Regence Medadvantage + Rx Classic (PPO) 1-844-734-3623 TTY: 711

Segment 1: $31; Segment 2: $58

Segment 1: $46; Segment 2: $104

See below for what segment your county is in. Call for details.

8,100+ providers

19,000+ providers

Over 4,000 network providers

Segment 1: $0 PCP/$30 Specialist; Segment 2: $15 PCP/$35 Specialist

In Net: $15 PCP/$40 Specialist; Out-of-Net: 30%

In Net: $10 PCP/$25 Specialist; Out-of-Net: 30%

$30 copay for primary $35 copay for specialist

$20 copay for primary $25 copay for specialist

$0 copay

Monthly Premium

Choice of Doctors

Per Doctor Visit

Regence Medadvantage + Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Basic (HMO) Senior Advantage (HMO) Rx Enhanced (PPO) 1-844-734-3623 daily 8a-8p 1-866-935-0449 daily 8a-8p 1-866-935-0449 TTY: 711 TTY: 711 TTY: 711 Segment 1: $201; $41 $119 Segment 2: $242 Out of pocket max. $4900 Out of pocket max. $2500 2015 Medicare 5 Star 2015 Medicare 5 Star See below for what Rating Rating segment your county is in.

Regence Medadvantage Basic (PPO) 1-844-734-3623 TTY: 711

Call for details.

Routine Physical Exams

Emergency Care, USA/Foreign

$75, waived if admitted within 48 hrs; worldwide coverage

$75 copay worldwide coverage

Segment 1: Days 1-6: $300/day, Days 7-90: $0/day; Segment 2: Days 1-4: $390/day, Days 5-90: $0/day

In-Net: days 1-4: $390/day, Days 5-90: $0/day; Out-of-Net: 30%

In-Net: days 1-5: $310/day, Days 6-90: $0/day; Out-of-Net: 30%

$275 per day, days 1-6

$200 per day, days 1-6

Choice of Hospitals

12 hospitals to choose from

38 hospitals to choose from

Kaiser Sunnyside, Legacy Salmon Creek, Salem Hospital, and new Westside Medical Center

Ambulance

Segment 1: $275; Segment 2: $300

$300

$250

$225 copay per trip

$175 copay per trip

Segment 1: Days 1-20: $40, Days 21-100: $150; Segment 2: Days 1-20: $0, Days 21-100: $160

In Net: Days 1-20: $0/day, Days 21-100: $160 Out-of-Net: 30%

$0 per day, days 1-20 $50 per day (days 21-100)

$0 copay per day, days 1-100

Includes Part D Coverage

Not Covered

Includes Part D Coverage

Integrated Part D drug benefit

$0 Deductible Tier 1: $5 Tier 2: $12 Tier 3: $45 Tier 4: $95 Tier 5: 33% Tier 6: $0

Not Covered

$360 Deductible Tier 1: $10 Tier 2: $15 Tier 3: $47 Tier 4: $100 Tier 5: 25% Tier 6: $0

$0 Deductible Tier 1: $5 Tier 2: $12 Tier 3: $47 Tier 4: $100 Tier 5: 33% Tier 6: $0

No deductible Generic: $5 preferred/ $10 non-preferred; Brand $45 preferred/$90 nonpreferred; Specialty: 33%; Vaccines: no charge; Generic & vaccines covered thru the gap

Segment 1: $0 exam, $100/yr. hardware allowance; Segment 2: $15 exam, $65/yr. hardware allowance Routine coverage not covered; Segment 1: $25; Segment 2: $35 Medicare Covered exam

$40 exam; $100/yr. hardware allowance

$25 exam; $150/yr. hardware Routine eye exam: $35 allowance copay. See “Other Details”

Routine eye exam: $25 copay. See “Other Details”

Routine coverage not covered; In Net: $40; Out-of-Net: 30% Medicare Covered exam

Routine exam not covered; In Net: $25; Out-of-Net: 30% Medicare Covered exam; In Net: $599 or $899; Out-of-Net: $599 or $899 for TruHearing Hearing Aids

Segment 1: $30; Segment 2: $35

In Net: $40; Out-of-Net: 30%

In Net: $25; Out-of-Net: 30%

$30 copay per visit

$20 copay per visit

N/A

18,000+

32,000+

Hospitalization

Skilled Nursing Care

Prescription Drug Plan

Prescription Drug Copay, Deductible

Vision Hearing Exams & Hearing Aids Mental Health Therapy Members Other Details

Segment 1: $3,400 Max Out-of-Pocket; Segment 2: $6,700 Max Out-of-Pocket; $0 Medical Deductible; SilverSneakers; Dental and Hearing Aid coverage $39/month

In Net: $0; Out-of-Net: 30% In Net: $0; Out-of-Net: 30% In Net: $0; Out-of-Net: 30%

Routine hearing exams $35 Routine hearing exams $25 copay. Hearing aid not cov- copay. Hearing aid not covered. See “Other Details” ered. See “Other Details”

Advantage Plus - Dental, Advantage Plus - Dental, $0 Medical Deductible; $0 Medical Deductible; $0 Medical Deductible; extra eyewear, and hearing extra eyewear, and hearing Preventive Dental, Preventive Dental, Preventive Dental, aid package for $43 per aid package for $43 per SilverSneakers, $6,700 In- SilverSneakers, $6,700 In- SilverSneakers, $5,000 Inmonth. month. Net and $10,000 Net and $10,000 Combined Net and $8,300 Combined Combined (in and out) (in and out) Max Out-of- (in and out) Max Out-of- Email your doctor’s office Silver & Fit® fitness Pocket; Max Out-of-Pocket, Pocket; program which includes and order prescription Comprehensive dental Comprehensive Dental Comprehensive dental no-cost membership to refills on-line. available $28/month available $28/month available $28/month participating local health clubs. Email your doctor’s office and order prescription refills on-line. Outside service area benefit

Service Areas

Segment 1: Multnomah & Washington; Segment 2: Clackamas, Marion & Polk in OR; Clark in WA

Website & other Phone Numbers

regence.com/medicare 1-844-734-3623; TTY: 711

Segment 1: Clackamas, Lane, Multnomah, Washington; Segment 2: Benton, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Linn, Marion, Polk, Wasco, Yamhill & Clark, WA

Oregon counties: Benton*, Oregon counties: Benton*, Linn*, Clackamas, Columbia, Linn*, Clackamas, Columbia, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, Yamhill. Washington, Yamhill. Washington counties: Lewis*, Washington counties: Lewis*, Wahkiakum*, Clark, Cowlitz Wahkiakum*, Clark, Cowlitz * partial county * partial county www.kp.org/medicare www.kp.org/medicare regence.com/medicare regence.com/medicare regence.com/medicare Members: 1-877-221-8221 Members: 1-877-221-8221 1-844-734-3623 ; TTY: 711 1-844-734-3623 ; TTY: 711 1-844-734-3623 ; TTY: 711 Non-Members: 1-866-935-0449 Non-Members: 1-866-935-0449 (TTY: 711) (TTY: 711)

Retain this chart for future reference. Prices and terms are subject to change. Be sure to contact your provider or prospective provider for complete coverage details and possible updated information. Chart information is current as of Oct. 12, 2015.

Is Medicare working for you? 12

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

to relocate or travel. She wanted a billing system where the medical offices would submit the bills for her. She wanted her co-pays covered, and to be able to choose her own doctors and hospitals. “That’s what I needed, some flexibility,” Clark says. Little did she know how important those decisions would become when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer two years ago. “I had a good experience with my insurance company,” she says. “I got excellent care. My plan allows me to go to any specialist as long as they accept that plan. And up until recently, most everybody does accept it.”

From finding the right doctor to finding the right plan, managing Medicare requires strict attention

By MICHELLE TE BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

Before Darla Clark signed up for her Medicare plan, she carefully examined her wants and needs. She wanted a nationwide company, in case she decided

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Because of complications from her cancer surgery, Clark saw several types of specialists, and was unable to return to her work as a real estate agent in Woodburn until this year. “Overall, I’ve been happy with my insurance,” she says. “It’s not cheap, but I have had no denials, no false billings and no errors that I can tell. Considering that I was sick as I was, it was a blessing to

have that.” In fact, she looks at her life in a much more positive way. “I had a lot of issues, and they were snowballing, they just kept coming and coming,” Clark says. But she persevered, looked at her options and fought her way through it all. She now has a 75 percent chance that her cancer will not return. Now, Clark is open to considering other insurance com-

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panies, but will stay with the same Medicare plan she has chosen. She knows others who have had trouble with finding doctors, particularly when they are new to an area. One couple she knows moved to Oregon from another state and could not find a doctor for the wife’s medical issues. “They had one heck of a time finding a doctor that would even accept Medicare,” Clark says. “The only reason I didn’t, I believe, was because I was pre-established. They found that no doctors would accept their plan and they ended up having to change their plan to something totally different.” Clark’s experience, as well as those of the couple she mentions, are not uncommon, says Lisa Emerson, program manager for Oregon’s Senior Health Insurance Benefits Association, or SHIBA. “Doctors are a business, and they have to look at their bottom line to keep their practice open,” she says, adding that each state sets its own reimbursement rates with doctors based on how healthy each state is. “The rate is lower in Oregon because we’ve had healthier people and provide better health care (than some other states),” Emerson says. “In other states, for example, a knee replacement surgery would cost four times more because of the rate structure.” SHIBA provides counseling to Medicare enrollees or those who might want to change their plan during open enrollment. Volunteers review plans, but can’t make recommendations. They frequently make presentations around the state, and can meet with individuals by appointment. “In Marion/Polk counties, SHIBA gets calls from people who are new or aging into

See BENEFIT p. 13

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BENEFIT CONTINUED FROM P. 12

Medicare,” Emerson says, “who might say that their doctor won’t keep them on once they go on Medicare, or saying that they didn’t have a doctor who will accept Medicare. It’s pretty rare, but it does happen.” Jason Stubbs, an independent insurance agent in Eugene specializing in Medicare, says one of the biggest issues he sees is for those who are already on Medicare trying to find a new doctor when they move, or keeping up with the changes in their current plan. “It’s hard finding a new doctor,” he says. “It’s a challenge because, in order to reestablish care, they find that many doctors aren’t accepting new Medicare patients.” Many who already are established with a doctor, then enroll in Medicare, find that their doctor will keep them on. But those doctors likely may not be accepting new Medicare patients. Dennis Gerke of Eagle Point found the opposite to be true. When he retired in 2002 from a teaching career, he was apprehensive about rolling his health care over into the Medicare system. “I started reading through Medicare, looking through what was available and what the options were, and I was scared to death,” he says. “I had a good plan already as a teacher.” With the help of Stubbs, Gerke says the process actually became “smooth and easy,” and he now feels guilty when he hears his friends having difficulties with their plans. “It was a piece of cake,” Gerke says. “I can’t believe how smooth it was. Jason showed us the things you do and don’t do. We sat down with him, looked at our options of what it would cost us, what the plans were, how long they would extend, the depth of the policy — we discovered it was really easy to do.” Just as important, he says, was learning about the different prescription drug plans, where the holes were, and how to find a policy and program that would fill in those holes. He also was able to keep his doctors, even after he switched to Medicare. “My ducks were all lined up,” he says. “I’ve had several different doctors for several different reasons, and they’ve all been involved with Medicare, so there wasn’t a problem there.”

Getting coverage Oregon has one of the highest rates of Medicare Advantage plan enrollment at 45 percent, “which is pretty high,” Emerson says. “We’re close to Florida, and Oregon is second or third in the nation. That’s a good indicator of the economic climate in the medical world about why

quite a few people are taking Medicare Advantage.” She says population density makes a big difference in controlling rates for medical services, with rural areas being harder hit because there are fewer choices for medical care. “The losses of the few are covered by the many,” she says. “The number of people who are insured in the pool has an effect.” A person who lives in Wasco or Umatilla counties will have fewer options than someone who lives in Marion or Multnomah counties, she adds. Shelly Dement of Shelly D Insurance in Cottage Grove says because Lane County offers so many insurance plans, it really benefits her clients. “We’re fortunate to have good competition with Medicare Advantage options, which equals very attractive

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

“It’s hard finding a new doctor. It’s a challenge because, in order to re-establish care, they find that many doctors aren’t accepting new Medicare patients.” ~ Jason Stubbs coverage,” she says. She recommends finding a good doctor before enrolling in Medicare, and once you do, take advantage of the preventive care. “Every single plan out there has good preventive care benefits,” Dement says. “They do it to take care of the small things before they become big things. Even Original Medicare now covers a full wellness exam each year. So there’s no reason not

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to do it.” To help with the frustrations that might come with finding a provider or figuring out which Medicare plan is best (“It’s rare that someone calls and says, ‘This is easy.’”) Emerson recommends calling providers and asking which plans they do accept. “They usually have a billing manager who’s in a position to know these things,” she says. “When

someone talks to SHIBA for counseling, we always recommend talking to providers about what insurance they are currently accepting so we can do an informed comparison.” She also suggests looking at clinics that have various types of physicians — MD, DO, NP and PA. “Sometimes it’s a way into a clinic by being willing to see the nurse practitioner, but knowing that the clinic has some oversight if the care needed to be elevated.” Emerson says it’s important to pay attention to your mail because insurance companies make changes in their level of coverage. “It’s a message we can’t stress enough,” she says. “There are certain required notices that (the federal government) regulates by certain

See HEALTH p. 15

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ong. l e b u o y e Wher *Must be 18+ Players Club member member.. See Players Club for details

I-5 ttoo Exit 88 • Rochest Rochester er • 1-800-720-1788 • luck luckyeagle.com yeagle.com * FARES, ROUTES, SCHEDULES AND SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. TRAVELERS 62 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE 15% OFF THE BEST AVAILABLE ADULT RAIL FARE ON MOST AMTRAK TRAINS. CHILDREN AGES 2 THROUGH 12 RECEIVE A 50% DISCOUNT ON MOST AMTRAK RAIL FARES, ALL YEAR LONG, WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY AT LEAST ONE PERSON PAYING FULL ADULT RAIL FARE. UP TO TWO CHILDREN’S DISCOUNT ARE PERMITTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH ADULT TRAVELER. SLEEPING CAR, BUSINESS CLASS, AND FIRST CLASS UPGRADES ARE PERMITTED UPON PAYMENT OF FULL ACCOMMODATION CHARGES. DISCOUNTS CANNOT BE COMBINED. OTHER RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY. AMTRAK AND ENJOY THE JOURNEY ARE REGISTERED SERVICE MARKS OF THE NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION.

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS â&#x20AC;˘ NOVEMBER 2015

Medicare Plan Guide Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what some major providers have to offer. For more detailed information, contact each company directly. Providence Medicare Choice (HMO-POS) 503-574-5551 800-457-6064; TTY: 711

Providence Medicare Choice + Rx (HMO-POS) 503-574-5551 800-457-6064; TTY: 711

Providence Medicare Extra (HMO) 503-574-5551 800-457-6064; TTY: 711

Providence Medicare Extra + Rx (HMO) 503-574-5551 800-457-6064; TTY: 711

Providence Medicare Prime + Rx (HMO-POS) 503-574-5551 800-457-6064; TTY: 711

FamilyCare Health Advantage Rx (HMO) Select Rx (HMO) Plan HMO 866-225-2273 TTY/TDD: 711

$45

$81

$109

$157

Advantage Rx (HMO) $0/$0 Select Rx (HMO) $140/$136

In-network or out-ofnetwork providers

In-network

In-network or out-ofnetwork providers

More than 4,000 in-network providers

Per Doctor Visit

$20/$30 in/out-of network

$15

$20/$45 in/out-ofnetwork

Advantage Rx $5; Select Rx $40

Routine Physical Exams

$0/20% in/out-of-network

$0/30% in/out-of-network

Emergency Care, USA/Foreign

$65

$75 worldwide; waived if admitted

Days 1-7: $275/day Days 8 & beyond: $0 20% out-of-network

Days 1-7: $200/day Days 8 & beyond: $0

Days 1-7: $275/day Days 8 & beyond: $0 30% out-of-network

Advantage Rx: $275/day first 6 days & $0 after; Select Rx: $225/day first 6 days & $0 after

Choice of Hospitals

Providence and other community hospitals, including Tuality, Tuality Forest Grove, Santiam, Salem, Silverton, Cottage Grove, Willamette Valley and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center

Providence and other community hospitals, including Tuality, Tuality Forest Grove

Legacy Hospitals, Adventist, Silverton, Good Shepherd, St. Anthony, Kadlec RMC, Providence St. Mary, and Walla Walla General

Ambulance

$150 one way

$100 one way

$300 one way

$250 co-pay, waived if admitted

Days 1-20: $0 Days 21-100: $150/day 20% out-of-network

Days 1-20: $0 Days 21-100: $150/day

Days 1-20: $0 Days 21-100: $160/day 30% out-of-network

Advantage Rx: Days 1-20 - $0/day; Days 21-100 - $125/day; Select Rx: Days 1-20 - $40/day; Days 21-60 - $100/day; Days 61-100 - $0

Prescription Drug Plan

Part B drugs only

Integrated Part D drug benefit

Part B drugs only

Integrated Part D drug benefit

Integrated Part D Drug Benefit

Prescription Drug Copay, Deductible

Part B drugs only

prefer generic/prefer network pharmacy $6; prefer generic/network pharmacy: $12; non-prefer generic/prefer network pharmacy $15; non-prefer generic/network pharmacy $20; prefer brand $47; non-preferred brand $95; specialty drugs & injectable meds 33% No deductible

Part B drugs only

Routine eye exam: $20 in/out-of-network; Covered up to $45 out-of-network; Routine hardware $100/2 yrs

Routine eye exam: $15 Routine vision hardware: $100/2 yrs.

No coverage Optional buy up plan available

Advantage Rx exam $20; Select Rx exam $0; $100 glasses credit all plans

$30; 20% out-of-network no coverage for hearing aids

$20 no coverage for hearing aids

$40; 30% out-of-network no coverage for hearing aids

Not covered

Mental Health Therapy

$30 in-network 20% out-of-network

$20

$40 in-network 30% out-of-network

Advantage Rx: $40; Select Rx: $30

Members

47,800 (All MA plans)

3,800

Monthly Premium

Choice of Doctors

Hospitalization

Skilled Nursing Care

Vision Hearing Exams & Hearing Aids

prefer generic/prefer network prefer generic/prefer network pharmacy $6; prefer generic/net- pharmacy $7; prefer generic/network pharmacy: $12; non-prefer work pharmacy: $12; non-prefer generic/prefer network pharmacy generic/prefer network pharmacy $15; non-prefer generic/network $15; non-prefer generic/network pharmacy $20; prefer brand $47; pharmacy $20; prefer brand $47; non-preferred brand $95; specialty non-preferred brand $95; specialty drugs & injectable meds 33% drugs & injectable meds 30% No deductible $90 deductible

Advantage Rx: Tier 1: $0; Tier 2: $20; Tier 3: $35; Tier 4: $90; Tier 5: 28% Select Rx: Tier 1: $0; Tier 2: $7; Tier 3: $30; Tier 4: $70; Tier 5: 30%

Silver&Fit no-cost gym No deductible for $0 drug tier; membership; online video $40 monthly credit for overthe-counter remedies for visits; 24-hr. nurse advice line; $500 annual benefit Select Rx; $40 monthly gym credit for Advantage Rx & toward health and Select Rx; 24/7 nurse hotline wellness classes

Other Details

Silver&Fit no-cost gym membership; online video visits; 24-hr. nurse advice line; $500 annual benefit toward health and wellness classes

Silver&Fit no-cost gym Silver&Fit no-cost gym membership; online video membership; online video visits; 24-hr. nurse advice visits; 24-hr. nurse advice line; $500 annual benefit line; $500 annual benefit toward health and toward health and wellness classes wellness classes

Silver&Fit no-cost gym membership; online video visits; 24-hr. nurse advice line; $500 annual benefit toward health and wellness classes

Service Areas

Clackamas, Columbia, Lane, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington & Yamhill counties in Oregon. Clark County, WA

Clackamas, Columbia, Clackamas, Columbia, Lane, Marion, Multnomah, Lane, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington & Polk, Washington & Yamhill counties in Yamhill counties in Oregon. Clark County, WA Oregon. Clark County, WA

Clackamas, Columbia, Clackamas, Multnomah & Lane, Marion, Multnomah, Washington counties in Polk, Washington & Oregon Yamhill counties in Oregon. Clark County, WA

Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, Clatsop, Umatilla & Morrow Counties

Website & other Phone Numbers

503-574-5551, 800-457-6064 TTY:711

503-574-5551, 800-457-6064 503-574-5551, 800-457-6064 TTY:711 TTY:711

www.ProvidenceHealthPlan.com/ medicare

FamilyCareHealthPlans.org 503-345-5701 866-225-2273, TTY/TDD 711

www.ProvidenceHealthPlan.com/ medicare

NOVEMBER 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

HEALTH CONTINUED FROM P. 13

dates, such as the annual ‘notice of change’ letter. It has to go out in early October, as would a termination letter. If a clinic wants to leave (the plan), they need to let you know, and you need to act on it.” She also recommends reviewing your drug plan as they change yearly, from the formularies to the co-payments to even whether a specific drug will be included on the plan. “It’s great to do a checkup every year,” she says. And don’t feel bad about meeting with a SHIBA counselor or calling the 800-number to ask a question. “We get a lot of sentiment, a lot from

those who feel they are an intelligent person but are having a difficult time comprehending all the things to think about,” Emerson says. “They have so much mail coming at them, and too many choices. There are timing issues and concerns unique to their situation. It can be overwhelming to people, and we can help interpret it.” Stubbs says he contacts all of his clients at least twice a year, on their birthdays and at the end of the year, “just to talk to them about the changes that are happening,” he says. “Are they OK with those changes or do they want to change plans?” While Medicare supplement and Medigap plans never change, the premiums can and do change. Medicare Advantage and the Part D

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

prescription plans change every year, Stubbs says. One plan had a premium

that went from zero to nearly $50 a month, he says. “Your insurance companies might

not be contacting their clients, so you are left to find out on your own what those changes are.” Dement believes that insurance companies want to stay competitive while working with an ever-decreasing budget, so the plans won’t change too much. However, with so many more people entering into the healthcare system, insurance premiums are going to rise next year — by at least 38 percent. “I’ve been in this business for almost 23 years, and you’ll see that lower premium ‘cloud’ float over this plan or that one,” she says. “Now, there’s no corner of good, low rates. I just can’t make it happen. Companies are trying to get more creative to account for the rate increase, but it will be painful.” ■

HEALTHY LIVING DIRECTORY NAME & LOCATION

ComfortCare Dental www.comfortcare.net Milwaukie

503-653-8320 Oregon City

503-557-3747

FamilyCare Health 825 NE Multnomah St., Ste. 1400, Portland, OR 97232

503-222-2880 800-458-9518 (TTY/TDD 711) www.familycareinc.org

SERVICES OFFERED

Complete Family Dental Care We focus on prevention and provide a variety of procedures for our patients. Services include: Preventive exam and cleaning, basic filling, crown and bridge, root canal, perio surgery, extraction, implant and denture. We have Mobile Dental Van servicing the senior population in Assisted Living Facilities. Our patients are like family to us.

Based right here in Oregon, FamilyCare Health is an HMO and PPO plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid). We offer six Medicare Advantage plans.

Local matters when it comes to your health. Call us or visit our website to learn more about FamilyCare Health.

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest

With Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage (HMO), you may get more benefits and services than Original Medicare alone, which can help you stay healthy, active, and independent.

500 NE Multnomah St., Ste. 100 Portland, OR 97232

So, give us a call for more information — we look forward to talking with you soon.

1-866-935-0449 1-800-735-2900 TTY 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

National Cremation Service 9800 SW Shady Lane Tigard, OR 97223

503-598-9002 1-855-4MY-WISH Available 24 hours a day www.nationalcremation.com

Chris Boon, MBA, LUTCF Independent Consultant Senior Choices NW 29174 Town Center Lp. West Suite 102 Wilsonville, OR 97070

971-344-0934 cboon@seniorchoicesnw.com

People choose cremation because it is affordable, flexible, and gentler on the environment. • Avoid Costly Services. Plan a dignified, loving tribute for less money. • Flexibility. Cremation offers the family more accommodating options, all allowing family, near and far, to participate in the remembrance celebration of a loved one. • A Unique Tribute. Celebrate your loved one’s spirit through a variety of options, like a scattering at sea ... or in a ceremony closer to family and friends. Ask me about your Medicare options! I represent major Medicare insurance plan carriers in Oregon and Washington state: • Medicare Advantage • Medicare Supplement • Medicare Part D (Prescription drug plans) Call me with your Medicare questions or to make an appointment for a personal, confidential review (at no cost to you) of your current coverage and to ensure that you have the very best plan to suit your needs and preferences.

New Oregon Blue Book now available 16

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

A limited number of the newly-released 2015-16 Oregon Blue Book are still available. This edition features an expanded color section exploring Oregon’s early rural schools with photos, artwork and memorabilia from Oregon’s historical societies. The purpose of the exhibit is to look back at the colorful history of rural education in Oregon before World War II when small town life revolved around the local schoolhouse. The 2015-16 Blue Book also features – for the first time – winning essays from a statewide contest that asked elementary and middle school children what they loved about Oregon. These essays provide a fresh perspective on our state and create a time capsule for Oregonians in the future. The Oregon Blue Book, Oregon’s official fact book and almanac, has been updated and re-published every two years since 1911. “It is an institution, a state icon and a collector’s item,” says Julie Yamaka, managing editor. The Blue Book can be purchased from the State Archives online at secure.sos.state.or.us/prs/shopBlue Book.do or at the Capitol Gift Shop, Powell’s Portland locations and a limited number of bookstores around the state. ■

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • NOVEMBER 2015

Contact Evans at 503-7600705 or send an email to aevans@leachgarden.org. The garden is located at 6704 SE 122nd Ave., Portland.

Meals on Wheels needs help on Thanksgiving

Leach Botanical Garden needs more volunteers

Leach Botanical Garden in southeast Portland needs volunteers to help with holiday festivities, particularly the annual Holiday Bazaar, Dec. 4 and 5. Volunteers also are needed this winter in the gift shop, which is located in the heart of the garden. There are approximately 100 current volunteers. They welcome visitors to the Manor House, provide tours of the garden and share stories and information with guests. They propagate plants, groom trails and prune branches. They stage events and fundraisers and lend their talents to helping with a number of projects. “They say a beautiful garden is a work of heart, and our volunteers are here to prove it,” says Ashley Evans, volunteer coordinator.

Meals on Wheels People is seeking 200 volunteers to deliver meals to homebound seniors on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26. Meals are picked up at one of five locations throughout the metro area between 10 and 11 a.m. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license, their own car, vehicle insurance and will have to undergo a criminal background check. To register as a Thanksgiving Day volunteer driver, visit mealsonwheelspeople.org/Th anksgiving. Volunteers must submit their background check paperwork no later than Friday, Oct. 30, in Oregon and no later than Friday, Nov. 20 in Washington.

Store to Door adds another board member

Portland-based nonprofit Store to Door has added Sharon Gueck, portolio manager with Becker Capital Management, Inc., to its board of directors.

For the past 25 years, Store to Door has supported independent living for Portland area seniors and people with disabilities by providing a low-cost, volunteerbased grocery shopping and delivery service. When it began in 1989, five volunteers shopped for 25 local seniors. Today, more than 500 clients are supported by hundreds of dedicated volunteers, donors and community partners who make over 7,500 grocery deliveries possible annually — a total of approximately 130,000 deliveries over the past quarter century. Sharon Gueck joins Store to Door’s strong and growing board of directors that includes representatives from Fred Meyer, Con-Way, Oregon Elder Law, and distinguished members of the Portland community. “After spending time with Kiersten Ware (Store to Door’s executive director), learning about Store to Door’s history and mission and seeing it in action,” Gueck says, “I am proud to serve on the board.” Gueck began her career with Merrill Lynch and joined Becker Capital Management, Inc., in 1994. She graduated from Willamette University, and holds Certified Financial Planner, and Certified Private Wealth Advisor designations. ■

70 YEARS Some things just get better with age. We’ve been providing affordable living and care for seniors since 1945.

Apartments with meal plans as low as $1,535 a month.

Call (503) 255-7160 today to tour or attend a “Lunch & Learn” event. EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

www.ParkviewRetirement.org Independent Retirement and Assisted Living

Seniors our concern ~ Christ our motivation!

NOVEMBER 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

Memory Care

Planned Activities

Utilities Included

Housekeeping

Transportation

LOCATION

Asst. Living/RCF/Foster Care

COMMUNITY

BUY-IN MONTHLY RENTAL No. of Units

Independent Living

RETIREMENT LIVING CHOICES

“No Buy-In”

Avamere at Bethany

16360 NW Avamere Court Portland, OR 97229 503-690-2402

Avamere Living at Berry Park Retirement Living Apartments & Cottages 13669 S. Gaffney Lane Oregon City, OR 97045 503-656-7614 www.avamerelivingat berrypark.com

Retirement Assisted Living Memory Care Call for pricing details.

No Buy In! Studio, 1 Bedroom & 2 Bedrooms: Rates starting at $1903/month 2 Bd cottages: $3525/month

● ● ● ● ● ● ●

●

● ● ● ●

98 total units

“No Buy-In”

Beaverton Lodge 12900 SW 9th St. Beaverton, OR 97005 503-646-0635 www.beavertonlodge.com

Canfield Place 14570 SW Hart Road Beaverton, OR 97007 503-626-5100 Margi Russo

Cornell Estates Retirement & Assisted Living

1005 NE 17th Hillsboro, OR 97124 503-640-2884 Charlene Torrey www.cornell-estates.com marketing@cornell-estates.com

Studio: $1765-$1825 1 BR: $2075-$2395 2 BR/1 BA: $2575-$2995 2 BR/2 BA: $2795-$2895 2nd Occ.: $395/mo.

●

● ● ● ●

121 Units

“No Buy-In” Studio: $2925-$3350 1 BR: $3700-$3800 2 BR: $4595 ● ● ● ● ● ● (Incl. second person) Double Occ. $600 88 Units

“No Buy-In” Affordable Rates to fit your budget.

Call today for your complimentary lunch & tour.

● ● ● ● ● ●

160 Units

“No Buy-In”

Creekside Village Retirement Residence A “Family Felt” Environment 5450 SW Erickson Ave. Beaverton, OR 97005 503-643-9735 www.creekside-village.com

568 sf, 1BR/1 BA + Lg storage closet 801 sf, 2 BR/1 BA + Lg storage closet 808 sf, 2 BR/2 BA + XL closet & pantry

●

● ● ● ●

120 Apts.

“No Buy-In”

Good Samaritan Society

Fairlawn Village 1280 NE Kane Drive Gresham, OR 97030 503-667-1965 Patricia Smith

1 BR or 2 BR Cottages with ala carte services $905-$1930/mo Lodge Apts. - Studio or 1 BR with services $1755-$2405/mo Call for fees for Rehab and Skilled Care.

●

● ● ● ●

185 Units

“No Buy-In”

Gresham Station Apartments 1003 NW Shattuck Way Gresham, OR 97030 503-665-2231 Tracy Geddes

1 BR/1 BA: $725 - $733 2 BR/1 BA: $825-$875 190 Units

●

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AMENITIES Did you know that Avamere at Bethany offers dementia care in our Arbor Community? Our staff is proud to provide a high quality of care to each resident, recognizing the uniqueness of each individual. We also offer assisted living apartments where residents can start out independent and as their needs grow we grow with them. Bethany has 8 condo cottages that are independent living with all the perks of living insde the community. Call today to schedule your tour!

Stop by Avamere at Berry Park today for a visit of our newly remodeled community. We offer housekeeping, laundry, 3 meals/ day in our beautiful dining room, transportation services, movie theatre, billiards lounge and a variety of activities here and off-site. Signature Home Care services are available on-site at affordable monthly rate providing you the independence you want, but assistance that you need. We can’t wait to welcome you home!

Some of the largest retirement apartments in the area. Pet-friendly, nonsmoking community. Two sets of onsite managers, front door video cameras - visible from residents’ TVs, indoor spa, mineral/saline pool, senior water aerobic classes, scheduled transportation, weekly shopping trips & excursions. Beautiful walking paths & raised bed gardens, satellite TV & much more. Two-story, beautifully appointed building surrounded by landscaping, close to shopping, medical facilities. Three meals daily served restaurant style, included in month-to-month rent. Kitchenettes w/microwaves in each unit. Licensed assisted living services available.

You or your loved one deserves the best that life has to offer & that’s exactly what you’ll find at this active community on Portland’s Westside. Our residents love our affordable prices, safe & friendly environment, 24hour health care, & customizable care packages. Their familes praise our diverse music, art, educational events & programs, quick access to medical care, doctors, shopping, & the personal, long-term staff caring for their loved one. Recipient of the Pacific University 2013 Community Partner Award.

There’s “No Place Like Home.” That’s why Creekside Village is where you’ll want to hang your hat. We serve 3 fantastic home cooked meals a day by our seasoned chef. 24-hour onsite emergency response. A walk around our beautiful grounds with a greeting from our creek side ducks makes for a pleasant experience. Just blocks from the Elsie Sturh Senior Center, Beaverton Library, and Beaverton Farmers Market.

Not-for-profit, faith based, continuum of care community on a beautiful 12-acre campus w/convenient, affordable 1- & 2 bedroom cottages, spacious lodge apartments, licensed in-home care agency for skilled and rehab care. Amenities: meals & housekeeping options, daily activities, transportation, beauty & barber salon, 24hr. emergency response, library, walking paths, guest rooms & dog park. Call to schedule a tour and have lunch.

Enjoy country club style living. Active 55+ community with controlled access building, shuttle service, new clubhouse and fitness center, business center, on-site management, on Max line, close to Gresham shops, services and activities.

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • NOVEMBER 2015

Medicare Plan Guide Readers Write Here’s what some major providers have to offer. For more detailed information, contact each company directly. PacificSource Medicare My Care Rx 22 Medical HMO with Rx - 888-863-3637 TTY: 800-735-2900

Humana Medical Plan, Inc. Humana Gold Plus (HMO) 1-800-833-2364 TTY: 711

$38

Over 3,000 network providers

Over 2,000 network providers

Per Doctor Visit

$5 PCP/$25 Specialist

$0 PCP/$40 Specialist copay

Routine Physical Exams

MyCare Visit: $0 copay

$0 copay

Emergency Care, USA/Foreign

$75 copay, waived if admitted, worldwide coverage

$75, waived if admitted within 24 hours

Hospitalization

Days 1-5 $295 copay, Days 6+ $0 copay

$325/day (days 1-5) $0/day (days 6-60) $100/day (days 61-90)

Monthly Premium

Choice of Doctors

Choice of Hospitals

Ambulance Skilled Nursing Care

Oregon Health and Science Adventist Medical Center, University; Legacy Mount Tuality Hospital, OHSU Hood; Legacy Emanuel; Legacy Good Samaritan; Legacy Meridian Park; Tuality Community; Tuality Forest Grove

$250

$275 copay

$40/day (1-20) $100/day (21-100)

$0/day (days 1-20) $160/day (days 21-100)

Prescription Drug Enhanced Part D drug benefit Plan

Integrated Part D drug benefit

Prescription Drug Copay, Deductible

Tier 1: Perf. $0/Std. $5; Tier 2: Pref. $12/Std. $17; Tier 3: Pref. $37/Std. $47; Tier 4: Pref. $90/Std. $100; Tier 5: 33% Tier 6: Select Care Drugs: $0; Add’l gap coverage for select brand & generic drugs

Generic: $3 preferred, $15 non-preferred; Brand: $45 preferred, $95 non-preferred; Specialty: 25% Deductible: $320 on Tiers 4 & 5 only

Vision

Annual exam $0; Contact lensRoutine exam $25 copay every 2 yrs; $100 allowance es, eyeglasses $0; up to $100 every year for eyewear/2 yrs.

Hearing Exams & Hearing Aids Mental Health Therapy Members Other Details

Service Areas

Website & other Phone Numbers

Routine exam: $25 copay (covered every year). Hearing aids not coverd

$0 exam, Hearing Aids: $250 max. per ear every 12 months. Discounts available

$25 copay/visit

$40 copay per visit

Open for enrollment

2,300

Out of pocket limit: $3,400 per Out of pocket limit: $5,700 yr; Silver&Fit Fitness program: SilverSneakers no-cost gym membership. 24-Hr. NurseLine; Up to $20 OTC benefit; Optional Preventive Dental 24-hr. Nurse Hotline; $28/month Diabetes monitoring supplies 0%; Nutritional meal benefit. Discounts for hearing & vision services and alternative health care.

Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties

Oregon counties: Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington

www.Medicare.PacificSource.com

www.humanamedicare.com 1-800-833-2364

1-888-863-3637 TTY: 800-735-2903

“Readers Write” is a chance for our readers to write about an adventure they’ve experienced, a trip taken worthy of note, a lesson learned in life, a kind gesture they experienced or any number of other topics readers wish to pass on to other readers. No poetry. “Readers Write” contributors should keep words to a 400-word limit, and all writings will be subject to editing for length and comprehension. Contributors are not compensated for their submissions. Send your article to Editor, Northwest Senior and Boomer News, 4159 Cherry Ave., NE, Keizer, OR 97303.

Leaving the world a better place one person at a time By DAVID MICHAEL SMITH

The last three years have been extraordinary for SAGE (Senior Advocates for Generational Equity). Our mission is to engage older adults in devoting their time, talent and passion to help younger and future generations face enormous challenges. Our focus is advancing generational equity, the principle that each generation should improve the quality of life for the next. We know in our heart it’s our responsibility to leave our world better than we found it. The question is — how? SAGE offers solutions. Since 2011, we have involved over 2,000 people in our programs, designed toward taking action. Through our Stewardship Conversations, we’ve hosted lively and productive group discussions, searching for solutions to major educational, environmental and economic challenges. The Visiting SAGE program brought three outstanding speakers to Portland, inspiring guests to help create a better world. We launched our first nine-month Legacy Fellowship leadership program. Fourteen participants devised their own community benefit projects. Our Giving Forward and Navigating Retirement workshops taught attendees how to promote generational equity. We offered service and advocacy opportunities with over 20 nonprofit organizations. In our StoryTree, we highlighted personal and inspirational stories about the efforts of volunteers and advocates who inspire others to get involved. What lies ahead is exciting. We have added a new position, the Director of Outreach, to focus on increasing our community of advocates. David Michael Smith, a former journalist, biographer and

video producer, has joined our team. One of his projects to build community is to create short video bios of those featured in our StoryTree. We have begun a second SAGE Legacy Fellowship program, have launched our Ambassador program where peers meet, one-on-one, to share experiences and pathways to give forward for younger and future generations. The Visiting SAGE program continues, bringing more speakers to Portland who will inspire and motivate older adults. Perhaps the best metric for accessing SAGE’S impact is the people who have become engaged through SAGE. Richard Canaday is one example. At a time in his life when Richard, a longtime Portland attorney, was looking for a way to pay it forward, serendipitously, he connected with SAGE. Richard became interested in sustainability. This new direction, he knew, would be the focus of his “encore career” and volunteer efforts. He was motivated by a desire to leave the world better for his new grandson. Richard was looking for service opportunities consistent with his new-found passion. “SAGE’S mission spoke to me,” he says. “The organization encourages collaboration and co-learning. I’m excited for the opportunity to work with others to find solutions to major challenges facing younger generations.” Richard is focusing his advocacy on efforts that address global warming and related impacts, shortfalls in Oregon education, and childhood hunger. The years ahead look promising. SAGE is dedicated to assisting older adults find their passion and to create opportunity for younger and future generations to thrive. Join us at: WeAreSage.org. ■

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”

~ Judy Garland

RESTORE NOVEMBER 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

■ Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum continues restoring a WWII ship to its former glory

By BARRY FINNEMORE BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

On Saturday mornings, volunteers gather at a restaurant on Portland’s Swan Island, then caravan to a nearby moorage to work on bringing a rare World War II-era landing craft back to its original glory. If all goes as envisioned, thousands of visitors someday soon also will converge on the vessel-turnedmuseum to learn about its role in the Pacific theater. The landing craft infantry, known as the LCI-713, is owned by the nonprofit Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum, formed in 2005 to restore and preserve the ship. The group has about 500 members across the country, and several gather weekly at the Swan Island Lagoon where it’s docked, to chip rust, repaint, and repair and install equipment. To date, a significant amount of restoration has been done, including re-creating a troop compartment, radio room, officers’ dining room and commanding officer’s quarters. In fact, on first blush from the exterior, the gunmetal-gray ship looks much as it probably did during the war. Rick Holmes, museum president and longtime board member, estimates that from the waterline up the LCI is probably 85 percent restored, and that, so far, a few hundred thousand dollars of in-kind and cash donations have been invested in breathing new life into the vessel. But one of the ship’s most important and expensive needs — a new hull steel — has yet to be met. Holmes believes about a half million dollars is required to move it to drydock and complete the work. He says the museum receives donations throughout the year and he gives tours to veterans and other groups, but members are trying to raise greater awareness about the LCI, increase public support and secure grants to complete the restoration. The museum pays the Port of Portland an annual fee for mooring the vessel on Swan Island, and also has a lease with the state, but its biggest ongoing cost is insurance, he notes. The LCI is significant partly because of a historic link to Oregon, carrying soldiers with the 41st Infantry Division, Oregon National Guard, into a key Pacific battle. Holmes, a retired project manager in the computer industry, notes that his fatherin-law was an LCI skipper during World War II, so he had a family connection to LCIs. But he remembers the moment — while chipping paint off the ship — that he realized the importance of the LCI-713. Of the nearly 1,000 LCIs built, the Portland ship

Courtesy photo

The landing-craft infantry, known as LCI-713, currently is moored on Swan Island, but members of the Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum are looking to find the ship a new home.

Photo by Barry Finnemore

Rick Holmes, museum president and board member, shows off the ship’s conning tower. In addition to restoring, Holmes spends time looking for additional artifacts.

one of the very few still intact and afloat. “We like to say it’s the only one remaining in its original configuration,” Holmes says. And LCIs are unique to WWII because they were only built during the war. “This is an important piece of history,” Holmes says of the vessel, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “The number

one mission of the museum is to educate the public and honor the service” of those who served on LCIs. LCIs were designed with bow doors to literally run up and place as many as 200 soldiers onto beaches quickly. According to the museum, the LCI-713 was built in Massachusetts and commissioned in 1944. It was part of two amphibious combat landings,

the first in March 1945 in the Philippines and the second just a few months later in Borneo. Holmes notes that at a certain point the military realized the value of the ships was not running up onto beaches but getting close to them, so LCIs were converted into gunboats in preparation for a possible U.S. invasion of Japan. As it turned out, the LCI-713 returned to the United States,

was decommissioned in 1946 and released to the Maritime Commission for sale. The vessel went through a couple of ownership changes. One company wanted to use it to tow log rafts along the Columbia River. Another owner envisioned it as a tugboat. Over the years, the ship’s two engines had been removed. About a decade ago, the museum purchased the LCI-713, which essentially had been gutted. These days, in addition to such tasks as painting, welding and electrical work, volunteers scour the salvage market for parts and equipment. They’ve re-created tables for the mess room and fabricated a gun mount. The museum found a replacement winch in Seattle for $5,000 and mounted it near the ship’s stern. Holmes says restoration is a challenge because parts and equipment are hard to come by and, when found, often expensive. “When you find something, you have to find a way to (acquire) it,” he says. One of the four troop compartments — about the size of a large living room — is being outfitted as exhibit display space. The museum has already acquired hundreds of exhibit items, including military uniforms, LCI models, machine guns, old U.S. and Japanese flags, a field desk and a gun sight for a 20-millimeter cannon. Among other things, the galley is being restored, and replacement engines are currently in storage. J. Wandres, an Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum board member who served in the navy, says volunteers are applying a wide variety of skills to return the vessel to its former glory, and the museum welcomes additional volunteers. He got involved about a year ago, and is using his journalism and public affairs background to help publicize the LCI-713’s restoration. The end goal, Holmes says, is to find a permanent home for the ship. Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum leaders are talking about potential sites with the Oregon Maritime Museum in downtown Portland and the PT 658 Museum, Heritage and Education Center, whose restored PT boat is docked next to the LCI713. “There are some possibilities but nothing solid,” he says. Ideally, a permanent home would have an on-shore building and easy public access to the moored LCI-713. Holmes says the ship is small enough that it could also be a mobile museum and be taken to events. “It’s not so big that that’s out of the realm of possibility,” he says. For more information visit amphibiousforces.org. ■

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • NOVEMBER 2015

Noirvember, weekly showings of film noir, 2 p.m. Sundays, Tualatin Public Library. Free.

Songwriters in the Round, 6:30 p.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503-644-0043.

Altar Guides Christmas Bazaar, 9 a.m., St. Joseph the Worker Church, 2300 SE 148th Ave., Portland.

Garden Home Community Library thrift store and event space, open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 7306 SW Oleson Road, Portland.

Exit Wounds: Soldiers’ Stories – Life After Iraq and Afghanistan, 2 p.m., Community Room, Tualatin Public Library. Free.

Nerd Night: Trivia for Adults, 6:30 p.m., Garden Home Community Store, 7306 SW Oleson Road, Portland. 503245-9932.

(also Nov. 11) Creating Home as You Age, 10 a.m. to noon, Tabor Space, 5441 SE Belmont, Portland. Creatinghomepdx.com or 503-926-1241.

(through Nov. 7) “I Hate Hamlet,” 7:30 p.m., Theatre West, 3536 SE Hwy. 101, Lincoln City. $14/$12. Theatrewest.com.

(also Nov. 8) Patriot’s Weekend Special, noon and 2:30 p.m., Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, Yacolt, Wash. $16/$15. 360-686-3559.

Va Va Voom, 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9400 NE 72nd Ave., Vancouver, Wash. 503314-0299.

Making Beauty: Native Beadwork of North America, 7 p.m., Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, Wash. $4/$3. 360-993-5679.

Giving Forward Workshop, 9 a.m. to noon, SAGE, 1515 SW 5th Ave., Suite 600, Portland. 971-717-6570.

(through Nov. 15) Siren Nation Festival, various dates/locations. Secretsociety.net.

Social Media Workshop: Twitter and open computer lab, 1 p.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503-644-0043.

Seasoned Adult Enrichment Program field trip to Oregon Historical Society’s exhibit: “World War II: A World at War, A State Transformed,” 9:30 a.m., OIT-191, 7726 SE Harmony Road, Milwaukie. 503-594-0620. Prime Timers Dining Club, 6 p.m., Heidi’s Restaurant, 1230 NE Cleveland Ave., Gresham. 503-9365861.

Crazy 8s Author Tour, 7 p.m., Beaverton City Library. Crazy8sauthortour.com. Books and Soup, 6:30 p.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503644-0043.

(through Nov. 29) Full Circle: AARP Smart Driver Course, 9 a.m. Paintings of the Young and to 4 p.m. Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Boomer & Senior News Old, opening reception, 5 to 8 p.m., NW P1 Holiday Pops - Runs 10/25-11/30, 2015 Cornell Road. 503-860-4404. Art Reach Size: 5.833x5 Color: 4/c New Perspectives on Science, Gallery, First Society and Global ConnectCongregaions: Legacies of WWII, a panel distional UCC, cussion with OSU professors, 2 to 4 1126 SW Park p.m., Oregon Historical Society, Ave., Portland. Portland. Free. 541-737-8560. 503-228-7219.

HOLIDAY POPS Saturday, November 28 | 7:30 pm Sunday, November 29 | 3 pm Jeff Tyzik, conductor Pacific Youth Choir Jeff Tyzik rings in the season amid the grandeur of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with the Oregon Symphony and the Pacific Youth Choir. Let the season begin, with your favorite carols and beloved holiday favorites.

Tickets start at $23

Groups save: 503-416-6380

503-228-1353 | OrSymphony.org A RLE N E

Book Group: “The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd, 7 p.m., Garden Home Community Store, 7306 SW Oleson Road, Portland. 503-245-9932.

“Roman Holiday,” 7 p.m., Center for the Arts, 22689 SW Pine St., Sherwood. $3. 503-625-4ART.

SCH NIT ZER

CON C ERT H ALL

Song Circle, 6:30 p.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503-644-0043. Veteran’s Day ceremony, 11 a.m., Sherwood Center for the Arts, 22689 SW Pine St. 503625-4210.

Social Media Workshop: Instagram/Pinterest, and open computer lab, 1 p.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503-644-0043.

Send your calendar items to: Calendar, 4159 Cherry Ave. NE Keizer, OR 97303 or email mte@nwseniornews.com by the 6th of the month for the following month’s publication.

Veteran Recognition Breakfast, 9:30 p.m., Juanita Pohl Center, 8513 SW Tualatin Road, Tualatin. Free, but register ahead, 503-691-3061. $6 for non-vets.

Corral Creek, and Kathy Boyd and Phoenix Rising, 7 p.m., Freedom Four Square Church, 600 SE 160th St., Portland. 503-307-2993. Genealogical Society of Washington County, 10 a.m. to noon, Hillsboro Main Public Library, 2850 NE Brookwood Pkwy. “DNA – Why Test? What Kind of Test? What Will I Learn?” 503-640-4431. Steve Seskin with guest Kelly Bosworth, 7 p.m., O’Connor’s Vault, 7850 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland.

Writers Mill, 1 p.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503-644-0043. A Couple’s Cornucopia of Words, 7 p.m., Holy Names Heritage Center, 17425 Holy Names Dr., Lake Oswego. Free, but canned goods collected. 503-607-0595. (also Nov. 22) “Sylvia,” 2:30 p.m., Niemeyer Center, Clackamas Community College, 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City. $11/$9. Clackamas.edu/theatre. AARP Smart Driver Course, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuality Health Education Center, 334 SE 8th Ave., Hillsboro. 503-848-6677.

An Evening with Chris Thile, 7:30 p.m., Newmark Theatre, Portland. $29.50+. 800-273-1530. (also Nov. 19) Managing Our Driving Behaviors, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Courtyard Village Vancouver, 4555 NE 66th Ave., Vancouver, Wash. $20/$30. 360693-5900.

(also Nov. 18) Steam Fall Leaves Special, noon and 2:30 p.m., noon and 2:30 p.m., Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, Yacolt, Wash. $20/$19. 360686-3559. (through Nov. 21) NW Senior Theatre: Silver Season – Holidays, 2 p.m., Alpenrose Dairy Opera House, 6149 SW Shattuck Road, Portland. $5. 503227-2003.

From Forest to Faucet, a history of the Portland Water Bureau, 9:30 a.m., OIT191, 7726 SE Harmony Road, Milwaukie. 503-5940620.

See CALENDAR p. 21

NOVEMBER 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

CALENDAR CONTINUED FROM P. 20 Foreign Film Night: “God’s Slave,” 7:30 p.m., Garden Home Community Store, 7306 SW Oleson Road, Portland. 503245-9932.

Polish Paper Crafts: Stars, 6:30 p.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503644-0043. (through Jan. 11) Holiday Wishes Show, 5 to 8 p.m., Currents Gallery, McMinnville.

International Games Day, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503-644-0043.

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

“City Celebration – Beaverton,” 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Washington County Museum, 120 E. Main St., Hillsboro. Christmas Bazaar, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Beaverton Lodge Retirement, 12900 SW 9th St., Beaverton. Folk Dancing Club, 3 to 4:15 p.m., Marshall Center, Vancouver, Wash. $1. 360-487-7100.

Thanksgiving Stories with storyteller Ken Iverson, 7 p.m., Garden Home Community Store, 7306 SW Oleson Road, Portland. 503245-9932.

AARP Smart Driver Course, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Elsie Stuhr Center, 5550 SW Hall Blvd., Beaverton.

(also Nov. 25) Headless Horseman Halloween Train, 9:30 a.m., noon and 2:30 p.m., Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, Yacolt, Wash. $16/$15. 360686-3559.

Tea and Tangles, 6:30 p.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503-644-0043.

(through Dec. 2) Auditions, by appointment, for “The Music Man” at Gallery Theater, 210 NE Ford St., McMinnville. Send email to gallerytheater@onlinemac.com.

Liberty in North Korea, 7 p.m., Garden Home Community Store, 7306 SW Oleson Road, Portland. 503-245-9932.

Voices in Verse: Open mic poetry, 10:30 a.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503-644-0043.

Knights of Pythias Retirement Center 3409 Main Street Vancouver, WA 98663 360-696-4375

Call Lori Fiorillo to schedule your personal tour with complimentary lunch

Privately owned & operated by Knights of Pythias, a not-for-profit organization

Pacific Pointe Retirement Inn at King City 11777 SW Queen Elizabeth King City, OR 97224 503-684-1008 www.pacificpointe.net Call for FREE lunch & tour Come check us out!

Parkview Christian Retirement Community 1825 NE 108th Ave. Portland, OR 97220 503-255-7160 Linda Williams

Royalton Place

5555 SE King Road Milwaukie, OR 97222 503-653-1854 Debbie Hart-Hartman

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AMENITIES Our non-profit organization offers very affordable housing. Amenities include meal program, housekeeping, laundry service, beauty shop, fitness center, art room, library, and a secured courtyard, 24-hr. security, secured entrance, emergency pull cords in each apartment. There are planned activities & weekly shopping trips at no cost. Stop by for a tour and lunch any time! All-Inclusive - Enjoy freedom from cooking, cleaning, yard work & home maintenance! Walk to shopping, banks, post office, pharmacy & medical offices or use our scheduled transportation. Beautiful grounds & walking path, activities, 24-hr. staff & emergency call system. Great food, staff & residents! Executive Director has been at Pacific Pointe for 20 years. On-site health care agency should you need it. Reasonable rates.

Located in a quiet neighborhood near medical services, shopping & banks, our 6-acre parklike campus provides single-level courtyard apartments amidst landscaped walking paths. A full calendar of activities & outings, incl. faithbased services, promotes friendship & a sense of community. Entree choices galore, fresh salad bar & dedicated staff make meal time a joy. Stop by for a personal tour & complimentary lunch. Small pets welcome. 24-hr. staff. Daily well-being checks.

“People Who Care...Caring for People”TM Our philosophy of service at Royalton Place Assisted Living encourages an active and independent senior lifestyle that supports residents’ privacy and dignity. Royalton Place provides Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Respite services. Our senior housing environment provides full-service senior living with resort-style amenities.

Our beautiful grounds are surrounded by quiet, quaint neighborhoods to provide peaceful and safe living. Living at Summerfield has it’s perks—including membership to the Summerfield Golf & Country Club! The golf course, clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis courts, exercise equipment & library are all available to our residents. Onsite managers, 24/7/365; pullcords in every apartment.

Bees in your backyard

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • NOVEMBER 2015

Getting into beekeeping is easier than you might think

By DENISE RUTTAN BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

Amber Reese is fascinated by honeybees. “It all started when I learned about colony collapse in 2006,” Reese says. “I thought, ‘What’s going on with the bees?’ I started doing more reading and research, and when I learned how much beekeeping cost, I decided to find a way to do it to help the environment around us have more honeybees.” She’s referring to colony collapse disorder, a syndrome that can wipe out the majority of worker bees in a hive, leaving behind a queen, food and a few nurse bees. Since 2006, 10 million beehives have been lost to this disorder, according to a 2012 U.S. Department of Agriculture report. It has many causes, including diseases and poor nutrition. This information is not new, but still relevant — one in three of the foods you eat, in fact, depends directly or indirectly on pollination by honeybees, says Reese, who does not want to imagine a world without the honeybee. So three and a half years ago, she became a beekeeper. Now, the Philomath woman keeps three hives at home and two at a friend’s property. She has also mastered the “journey” level of the Oregon Master Beekeeper program, which is similar to Master Gardeners and also overseen by Oregon State University. She started out in this program studying and reading about honeybees, and tutored with a mentor who helped her out with her hives. She will soon herself become a mentor to a new novice student. As a “journey-woman” beekeeper in this program, Reese gives presentations on beekeeping and does community service. She carts along all the books that helped her learn more about the bees she loves — volumes like Kim Flottum’s “The Backyard Beekeeper” guide for beginners, or D.M. Caron and L. Connor’s “Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping.” She wants people to know

how easy it is, and how important, to get started as a hobbyist beekeeper. “I work full-time and have other hobbies and two kids with all their activities; the time it takes is what you want to put into it,” Reese says. When she first started, Reese contacted the city of Philomath, to find out whether the city had any ordinances banning backyard beekeeping. The city did not. Next, she got in touch with her neighbors, just to be a good neighbor. “One of our neighbors says he couldn’t stand them. But he was actually thinking about our wasp friends,” Reese says. “It took some education about the benefits of honeybees and then he was OK with it.” In fact, as time went on, her neighbors say they saw a positive effect from Reese’s honeybees in their own gardens with more flowers in bloom. She also gives them some of the honey she harvests. As for the cost, Reese says you should start with at least two hives, in case something goes wrong with one of the hives that first year. For those two hives, including a bee suit and other basic gear, you can spend a total of approximately $691 to $791, excluding supplemental feeding, disease control and honey extracting equipment. That can purchase this picture of a day in the life of a beekeeper: Reese usually wears her full suit, from the boots to the veil, even after three and a half years of doing the hobby. She wears goatskin gloves, which are flexible when she needs to lift objects. When she is all geared up, she will light her smoker, typically using cutup burlap, which smokes well and stays lit. The smoker is a signal to the bees that she’s there. She uses a Jhook tool to pry open the frames of the hive. These frames can often collect propolis, a hard red or brown substance collected from tree buds by honeybees, which the honeybees will use to fill crevices in their

Photos by Dan Wise

Amber Reese wears a full suit when working with her bees. She lights up a smudge pot, and then blows smoke (above) on the hive to help calm the bees and make them easier to work with.

hive. She always carries a toolbox with her that contains a bee brush, scissors, a lighter, matches, a permanent marker and, of all things, ground cinnamon. She uses the cinnamon to shoo away ants, which do not like the spice. Her busy season is spring and summer, slowing down in winter. This picture would not be complete without mentioning honey, which is a major benefit of keeping your own hives. A typical hive population numbers about 40,000-60,000 bees. These bees will go out and collect approximately six pounds of nectar per day, on the higher end, at their peak season when blackberries are in bloom in late June and early July. “What that translates to as far as honey is ... two and a half pounds of honey per day,” Reese says. “They are busy, busy, busy guys. To make one pound of honey, it’s going to take bees roughly 55,000 miles to gather one pound of honey from 2 million flowers.” From her three primary hives, Reese will harvest nine

milk-sized gallons of honey, or 70-80 pounds of it. She will leave some so that the bees have food over the winter. “It’s just a fun hobby for us to do, but you don’t have to extract the honey,” Reese says. “You can let the bees have it all.” Reese’s whole family gets in on the action, too. Her twin daughters, Megan and Elise, both fourth-graders, have their own bee suits sized to fit them. They are present for everything and help out with the honey extraction. That way, she also passes on her passion for conserving honeybees to the next generation of beekeepers. She does not only have to juggle a family with her beekeeping. Reese also holds down a day job as an instructional assistant at Clemens Elementary School. Despite the extra work, she learns something new every day about these insects that continues to hold her fascination even three and a half years later. Facts such as a honeybee’s highly sensitive sense of smell; they can recognize the smells of different

See BEES p. 23

Of note

Hive cost with brand new equipment: $160-$190 Two hives: $320-$380 Bee suit: $70-$90 Gloves: $28 Hive tool: $6 Smoker: $27 Bees: Two-pound box $120130; starting with two boxes: $240-260 Local bee supply vendors: Nectar Bee Suppy at Shonnard’s, 6600 SW Philomath Blvd., Corvallis, 541-929-3524, nectarbeesupply.com Portland Bee Center, 3926 N. Vancouver Ave., Portland, 503-248-0104, livingscape.com/bee.htm More resources Oregon State University Honeybee Lab: honeybeelab.oregonstate.edu Oregon State Beekeepers Association: orsba.org Western Apicultural Society: ucanr.edu/sites/was2 The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation: xerces.org Oregon Master Beekeepers: extension.oregonstate.edu/mb

Meals on Wheels People launches line of artisan popcorn NOVEMBER 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

Meals on Wheels People now is selling hand-crafted, small batch popcorn. Created in partnership with Hummingbird PDX, the popcorn is packaged in one-gallon bags or in a decorative two-gallon tin with an assortment of flavors. Flavors include sea salted butter toffee, spiced orange whiskey caramel, Tuscan herb and red chili cheddar. From Nov. 1 to Jan. 15, there is a special holiday chocolate-peppermint flavor available. Bags sell for $20 each and tins for $50. Proceeds from the sale of the popcorn will be used to provide

hot, nutritious meals for older adults in the greater Portland-Vancouver metro area. To order, visit mealsonwheelspeople.org/popcorn or call 888-425-7093. Since 1970 the Meals on Wheels People has provided a nutritional and social lifeline for seniors through 31 meal sites in Multnomah, Washington and Clark counties and Meals on Wheels delivery to homebound seniors. With the help of 8,000 volunteers, the nonprofit organization now serves 5,000 meals daily and 1.3 million meals each year. ■

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

BEES CONTINUED FROM P. 22

hives, and if the pheromones a queen gives off do not match those of the queen they know from birth, they might attack the queen on smell alone. Even if you can’t keep hives of your own, you can still do your part to keep the honeybee population thriving. You can grow in your garden plants that attract bees, Reese says. Keep in mind that bees cannot see the color red, Reese says. They gravitate to purple, pink and blue colors. Native plants should be your first choice, including currant, goldenrod, huckleberry, Oregon

C L A S S I F I E D

grape, sunflowers and serviceberry. Other bee-friendly choices include purple coneflower, basil, English lavender, marjoram and hardy sages. There is no study at this time documenting the impact that backyard beekeepers such as Amber Reese have had in staving off colony collapse disorder, says Dr. Ramesh Sagili, director of the Honey Bee Lab at OSU. But he believes they are making a difference. “We expect that backyard beekeepers will help increase the genetic diversity of honeybees and that in turn might help with resistance to mites and diseases in the long term,” Sagili says. ■

A D S

Ads must be RECEIVED BY the 6th of the month PRIOR to publication Go to www.NWBoomerandSeniorNews.com for ad form and instructions.

8 Wanted to Rent

WF SENIOR WANTING ROOM to rent. NE Salem, near bus, grocery store. Allergic to cats. Get along with most everyone, enjoy conversation, going to Center 50+. 503-4631804.

9 Vacation Rental

LINCOLN CITY OCEAN FRONT, fantastic view, fireplace, TV/ VCR/DVD, 2 bdrms, kit/dishwasher, no smoking, no pets. Very comfortable. 503-843-3157. Email: holton@macnet.com.

16 Units for Rent

HUD SUBSIDIZED UNITS for senior citizens 62 or older, disNOTICE: Oregon state law (ORS 701) requires anyone who contracts for construction work to be licensed with the Construction Contractors Board. An active license means the contrctor is bonded and insured. Verify the contractor’s CCB license through the CCB Consumer Website www.hirali censedcontractor.co m or call 503-378-4621.

abled and/or handicapped, available at this time. We are committed to providing equal housing opportunities. All utilities paid. Surfwood Manor, 4545 SW Hwy 101, Lincoln City, 541-996-3477.

HUD SUBSIDIZED UNITS for senior citizens 62 or older, disabled and/or handicapped, available at this time. We are committed to providing equal housing opportunities. All utilities paid. Millwood Manor, 2550 14th Ave HUD SUBSIDIZED SE, Albany. 541-928UNITS for senior citi- 2545. zens 62 or older, disabled and/or handi- HUD SUBISDIZED capped, available at APARTMENTS for this time. We are senior citizens, 62 or committed to provid- older. We offer spaing equal housing cious one bedroom opportunities. All utili- apartments with prities paid. Briarwood vate balconies, on-site Manor, 643 Manbrin, laundry facility, comKeizer, OR 97303, munity room & a 503-981-8614. courtyard with a nice Koi pond. All in the HUD SUBSIDIZED heart of downtown UNITS for senior citi- Eugene! Call 541zens 62 or older, dis- 343-0433 for more abled and/or handi- information! Lawcapped, available at rence Court Apartthis time. We are ments provides equal committed to provid- housing opportuniing equal housing ties. Emerald Property opportunities. All utili- Management, 541ties paid. Glenwood 741-4676. Manor, 1687 NW Division St., Corvallis. Where’s YOUR classified ad? 541-753-3408. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowlingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD Toll-free at 1-800-669-9777. The Toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

18 Help Wanted PARTTIME LIVE-IN KENNEL ASSISTANT needed for caring for our dogs. We offer one bedroom apartment + utilities, with small income. Beavercreek, OR. Experience + alternate source of income required. 503-6326903. EARN UP TO $50,000 A YEAR, plus benefits, if you know how to sell advertising. Northwest Boomer & Senior News is located in Keizer. We have an immediate opening for a full time Advertising Representative position with our Metro, (Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas & Clark counties) edition. We’re looking for the right fit—a highly motivated & creative person who would enjoy the work as well as the challenge of growing our monthly print publication. We have been in business for 30 successful years. You will have to establish your own account list but don’t worry: this area has more than enough

potential businesses. Networking is a must! We pay for up to two chamber memberships so you have a chance to meet many business leaders! If you like to win in business & you are customer-oriented, we’d like to hear from you. We offer a base wage of $2000 per month, excellent commissions, mileage & cell phone reimbursement, healthcare, vacation & 401(k) everything you’d expect from a great company. EOE. Preemployment drug screen as well as driving record check required. Reliable transportation & insurance a must. Join our winning team: send your resume to dthouvenel@nwseniornews.co m. Please, no phone calls.

29 Miscellaneous

503-422-8478.

SINGING HU CONQUERS your fears & opens your Heart to Love, Joy & Spiritual freedom. Online: w w w. m i r a c l e s i n y ourlife.org. Or: www.eckankar-oregon.org.

MUSICAL INSTRUWANTED. MENTS Portland Music Co. always buying! Reputable since 1927. Free appraisals. 531 SE M.L.K. Blvd. Ask for Doug. 503-2263719.

32 Cemetery Plots TWO PREMIUM VIEW LOTS. Belcrest Memorial, lots 1 & 2. Section 94, block 13.Transfer fee included. $7000, obo. 503-877-6897, 503873-2291.

BASEBALL & SPORTS MEMORABILIA wanted. Buying old cards, pennants, autographs, photographs, tickets, programs, Pacific Coast League, etc. Alan, 503-4810719.

OLD SPORTS CARS WANTED: 1948-1972. Alfa, Austin Healey, Ferrari, Jaguar, Mercedes, MG, Porsche. “American Classics also!” 503-538-8096

33 Wanted

CASH FOR OLD TOYS, pre 1970 sport & non-sport gum or cigarette cards, model kits, comic books, old car or?? Private collector. 503-313-7538. CASH for DIABETIC TEST STRIPS. Help CASH FOR GOOD those in need. Paying Garden & Yard CONDITION reloading up to $30 per box. Care equipment & sup- Free pickup! Call 503-679plies. 541-905-5453. Sharon, 3605. YEAR ROUND YARD SERVICE. General 30+ YEARS TRUSTclean-ups, mowing, ED, REPUTABLE ANBUY - SELL trimming, weeding. TIQUES BUYER. Bark dust, power ALWAYS BUYING: old TRADE IT washing, hauling photos, postcards, HERE debris. 30+ years costume jewelry, experience. 503-393- most anything antique IN THE 2013. or vintage. Please call

CLASSIFIEDS

REACH THOUSANDS of READERS with a FRIENDSHIP AD

ATTENTION!

Changes have been made to the existing Friendship Club format. All Friendship Ads now appear in all four editions...and you can access the ad form online at: www.nwboomerandseniornews.com MAIL responses to: NW Boomer & Senior News, 4159 Cherry Ave. NE, Keizer, OR 97303; (include listing # you’re responding to)

Join the Friendship Club & broaden your circle of friends! PHYSICALLY & mentally solid, non-smoke/drink. postive. Former teacher, Liberal bent. Like to have age 78, 5’10”, 180 lbs. fun. Seek lady friend Two degrees, financially Salem area. #5625 Ad Abbreviations M = Male F = Female S = Single D = Divorced W = White A = Asian B = Black H = Hispanic J = Jewish C = Christian

N/S = Non-smoker N/D = Non-drinker ISO = In Search Of LTR = Long Term Relationship WW = Widowed White

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WM, fit, young 80. Interested in working out, playing golf, athletic events. Music, camping, fishing & hiking. Loves traveling. Financially secure. ISO a lady in her early 60’s. Mid 60’s OK. N/S, N/D. #5629

LOOKING for pleasant, responsible man. Positive outlook. Sixties or seventies. Home life, some traveling. Enjoy country, letters, phone. Let’s see if we can make something good happen. #5630

SWM, N/D, N/S. Looking for stable lady who likes traveling, long/short trips. BBQ’s, doing fun things. Own home, romantic, simple life with good moral character. Dinner out. LTR. Photo, phone. Eugene area. #5621

PORTLAND METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

adopt me

NEKO This handsome 13-year-old gentleman is looking for a new home where he can enjoy his retirement. He came to the Oregon Humane Society because his long-time owner could no longer

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • NOVEMBER 2015

afford his medical treatment. Neko arrived with a large abscess on the right side of his face which has been treated by our medical team and now is healed. Neko was previously an indoor/outdoor cat, but because he is FIV+ so he will need to be an indoor only kitty and any other cat would also need to be FIV+ also. He has lived with dogs and does best with those that aren’t too intensive. When he lived around another cat they just ignored each other. Neko is very friendly with family members but becomes shy when visitors arrive. He likes to spend his days exploring, and chatting with his closest friends. He can sometimes play a little rough, so a home with adults only might suit him best. Neko tells us he would really prefer a quiet home and that seniors are his real favorite people.

Could Neko be the purrrfect addition to your home? He has a special senior adoption fee of $12. The adoption fee for all cats and dogs includes neuter or spay, microchip ID, collar and OHS ID tag, initial vaccines, courtesy veterinarian exam, 30 days free PetPlan health insurance and plenty of post adoption. You can meet Neko and other cats or dogs at the Oregon Humane Society, 1067 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland. Call 503-285-7722 or visit oregonhumane.org. Viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. Adoption hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. Call to confirm availability. ■

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